Automatic device for cutting off the flow of air through oil-pipes.



T. A. TUCKER.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR CUTTING OFF THE FLOW OF AIR THROUGH OIL PIPES.

APPLICATION man MAR. 19, I915.

1,176,107. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

Witnesses Inventor,

' by L,

M Attorneys mT ED STATE$ PATENT oriuon.

THOMAS A. TUCKER. F BURKBURNETT, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR CUTTING OFF THE rnow or are. THROUGH orn-runs] To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS A. T CKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burkburnett, in the county of Wichita and State of Texas, have invented a new and valve structure 5 is interposed in the pipe useful Automatic Device for Cutting Off the Flow of Air Through Oil-Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a device for cutting off the flow of air through oil pipes, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character which will operate automatically to shut off the flow of air through the pipe line as when the oil is pumped from a storage tank and reaches the level of the pipe, which would ordinarily allow air to be drawn into the trunk or main line.

It is the object of the invention to provide a unique device, which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction, which may be readily applied to an oil pipe or line, and which is operable in an eiiicient and practical manner for automatically closing the passage through the pipe when the tank is emptied to prevent air from entering th pipe.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the ac companying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the devic as applied to an oil pipe, the section being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a tank for the storage of oil therein, such as is used in the oil districts, and the numeral 2 designates the oil pipe or line connected to the lower portion of the tank 1. This pipe 2 has a controlling valve 3 interposed therein adjacent the tank 1 whereby the valve 3 may be readily operated for opening and closing the pipe. The pipe 2 is also equipped Specification of Letters Patent. Patented 113 21, 1916, Application filed- Maich 19, 1915. 1 Serial No. 15,600. I

with a check valve 4 which allows the oil to flow out of the tank through the pipe, but which prevents the back flow of oil within the pipe 2.

In carrying out the invention, a cut ofi 2, preferablybeyond the check valve 4, and

embodies an upright or upwardly projecting '2. A gate valve 9 is mounted for reciprocation within the casing 6 and when lowered closes the ports 7 and 8, and thereby cuts or shuts off the flow of oil and air through the pipe 2. The gate valve 9 is provided with an upwardly projecting stem 10 slidable through the upper end of the casing 6, and suitable packing means 11 being carried by the upper end of the casing 6 for embracing the stem or rod 10 to prevent leakage.

A mechanism is employed for automatically operating the gate valve 9, this device being designated generally by the numeral 12, and embodies an upright or upstanding casing 13 having the diametrically opposite inlet and outlet ports 14 and 15, respectively, adjacent its lower end, and into which the adjacent ends of the respective sections of the pipe 2 are threaded or otherwise engaged. Thus, the oil will flow into and through the casing 13 when the valve 3 is opened. Mounted for vertical movement within the casing 13 is a float 16, which has attached thereto an upstanding rod or stem 17 which slides through the upper end of the casing 13, the upper end of the casing having suitable packing means 18 for embracing the rod 17 to prevent leakage.

The valve stem 10 operatively connected, whereby the movement of the float will actuate the gate valve 9, and to this end, an outstanding bracket 19 is attached to the back of the casing 6 and carries a standard 20, to the upper end of which an actuating lever 21 is fulcrumed.

- The actuating lever 21 is of the second order and float rod 17 are 7 filled with oil. and the Valve 3 is'opeii d the oil Will be allowed' to flow into the casing 13, and the casing 13 will then be filled with oil, which-will raise the'float 16, and as a consequence, the actuating lever 21 will be I raised,-resul'tingin the upward movement of the gate valve 9. As a result,,t;he gate.

valve 9 will be lifted away from the ports F7 and 8 -01 the valve?casing6,1=a1 d this will -':allow the oil'to-fiow past the gatevalve'into the trunk or mainline of. the system,fthe

oil being pumped in the usual manner from Z the-tank intothe trunk or main line. .Now, supposing that the oillevel within the storage tank-1 has lowered to; the pipe 2; this would ordinarily allow the air. to be drawn through the pipe 2, which is objectionable ,forv obvious reasons. 'g'present device, .as soon: as ,the tank is emptied, the oil. within the casing 1-3 will i also reach a lower level, thus permitting the "float 16 to gravitate, and causing the lever 21 to be swung downwardly. The lever '21 being lowered will swing the gate valve 9 downwardly, tocut 'ofl' the flow of oil and However, with the air through the pipe 2. In this manner, as soon as the tank is emptied, the cut ofl valve {structure 5 will automatically (close, which 7 11s a notable feature of the present mechanism. g

- Although the present device has'been'illusjctrated and described as beingapplied to an oil pipe, it is evident that it may be applied --.'to other liquidpipes, for shutting off the or other gas isallowed to enter the pipe.

The casing 13 is preferablygdisposed between the valves 3 and 4 ofithe pipe 2, and

'ataiiyrate between the valve structure 5 and the tank i Havingthusdescrib dtheinvention, what is claimed as new is: i

' 1. In a device of the character described, a pipe, a controlling valve therefor, a-cut ofli valve interposed in said pipe, a casing interposed in said pipe, a float movable in said casing, meansc-operatively 1 connecting thefloat and cutofl valve whereby-when the float is". raised and lowered it will open and close the'cut ottvalve. respectively 1 q 2. In a'deviceof the character described; a; pipe,a controlling valve therefor,a cut off valve structure embodying a casing interposed in said pipe anda vertically :movablc --.gate valve withinsaid casing, the cutoff valve having a stem slidable throughthe upper 1 end of the casing a float casing interposed in said pipe, a vertically movable float in the float casing and having a rod slidable through the upper end of the float casing,

' andfia lever operativelyconnecting said stein and rod, whereby when the float is raised and lowered it will open: and close the gate valve, respectively.

- In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaifixedmy signature in: the presence of two witnesses v i .THoMAs A. T C ER;

Witnesses: F. N. LA\VSO N MARTIN L. ALL AY.

i Copies of this patent-may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioiier of Patents,

Washington, 'D. 0. 

